Pippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

If the Acting Chairperson will bear with me for a couple of minutes, I will make some final statements and he can be on his way.

I thank my party colleague Senator Martin for his extensive work on this Bill. I also extend my thanks to Senators Garvey and Higgins for their continued interest in this important area. I welcome the beekeepers to the Gallery. This is an important day for them and for their commitment to their special species, Apis mellifera mellifera.

I acknowledge again, as I have done previously in this House, the important contribution the native Irish honey bee makes to agriculture and biodiversity as honey producer and pollinator. I reiterate my full support and that of my Department for the overall objective of the Bill, namely the protection of the native Irish honey bee. It is an objective that we all share in this House. The Government has provided extensive support to raise awareness among beekeepers about the importance of the native Irish honey bee. My Department has also provided funding through the scheme for the conservation of genetic resources, the scheme of investment aid for the development of the commercial horticulture sector to support beekeepers to source native bees and assist bee-breeding activities which ensure that such bees are available to meet beekeeper demand.

During the previous Seanad debate on this Private Members' Bill, I outlined concerns shared by my Department and the Office of the Attorney General regarding its compatibility with EU law, in particular Articles 33 and 36 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. While we all recognise the need to protect the native Irish honey bee, the advice from the Office of the Attorney General at the time was that a total ban on the importation of certain species of honey bee was likely to face significant scrutiny and proportionality grounds, having regard to the case law of the European court.The Office of the Attorney General considered that an evaluation in terms of proportionality and necessity by way of a scientific assessment was required to substantiate the specific measures proposed in the Bill. I committed to the House that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine would procure that independent scientific assessment as a matter of urgency. I am pleased to say that we signed a 12-month contract with the University of Galway for the provision of these research services in October of last year. My understanding is that this research project will conclude very shortly - in a matter of weeks.

The view of the European Commission is also important to highlight in this regard, if we are to succeed in our common objective of protecting this wonderful species. The European Commission was asked, by way of a written parliamentary question, if it would object to Ireland imposing a ban on the movement of non-native honey bees into Ireland and if it is open to Ireland to impose an interim ban pending the completion of the scientific review. The response from the Commission stated that the restrictions to the movement of non-native honey bees, due to reasons other than transmittable animal diseases, into Ireland from other member states should not be decided without a thorough assessment. That is why it is so welcome that this necessary and thorough assessment is almost at the point of completion, following which the Government will be in a position to take updated advice from the Office of the Attorney General in respect of the compatibility of the Bill with EU Single Market rules.

We are happy at this stage to move it on. The Bill has already moved and is about to pass the Bill on Report and Final Stages. I welcome the input of Senators for the duration of the debate on the Bill. I thank everyone for their input and support.